Wire-covering machine



Jan. 9, 1923.

1,441,561, W. E. 000K.

WIRE covERlNG MACHINE.

AFILED JAN. I7, 1921.

Patented Qlian.. Q, 31923.

@Maat stares @atraer 'naar orte,

WILLIAM E. GOUE, OIF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TU PEERLESS INSULATED WEE .AND G t:

LE COMPANY, 01E NEW YGRK, N. Y., A CORPORTION 01E' DELAWARE.

'wrnn-covnnme MACHINE.

Application tiled January 17, 1921. Serial Ho. 437,726.

ToI all whiom t may cof/wem.'

Be it known that l, WILLIAM lE. COOK, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at St.'v

George, in the borough of Richmond, city oi' New York, county of Richmond, land State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which yform a part. thereof. V

My invention relates to wire covering machines, and more particullarly to a machine adapted to spirally'wind cotton sliver or other similar absorptive, non-conductive material upon a `conductor wire and spirally wind bindingstran'ds thereon to produce a covered wire which thereafter is to be submergedin a bath of asphaltum or other electro rnon-conductive adhesive material to cause the saturation or impregnation of the covering of the wire therewith to weatherproof and impart additional insulating properties thereto.

Heretofore, l have produced machines ofthis character adapted for use in automatically applying the covering sliver and binding strands. lin such machines, however, the structureA was such as to apply lone or more binding strands, all havingv the ysame pitch and extending parallel one with the other, affording capillary ducts between succeeding convolutions of the strands to :tan cilitate saturation or impregnation of the absorbent body of the insulation with` the asphaltum or other composition.`

Tires made in accordance with my aforesaid invention were so constructed as to permit the simultaneous unwinding of the strip or webA of sliver and `binding strand, or re` quired a variance in the pitch of the binding strands and of the strip or web ofsliver or the winding of such strip or web and such strands in opposite directions to avoid simultaneous unwinding of the sliver and the strands. y

In a machine made Iin accordance with my present invention, the construction is such that instead of a single binding strand or a set of binding strands, being applied to the body of sliver, a pluralityy of such strands or vsets are successively applied thereto so as to cause one strand or set to overlay the other, the overlaying strand being Wound spirally in a direction the reverse ofthat of the underlaying strand, but not being 1nterlaced or interwoven therewith yin any way, and the succeeding convolutions ot i both strands or sets of strands being so spaced apart and so imbedded in the body ot sllver as to afford capillary ducts in the sllver between the relatively less absorptive strands.

'llhe machine is so constructed that thel spirally wound sliver will be compacted immediately before the application of the underlaying binding strand or strands thereto, thus causing the subsequent eri the body of sliver in the portio uncontined by the strands to permitwne eX- tension of these portions of the sliver beyond the strand so that in the-subsequentv finishing operations, which, however, is not accomplished `.by a machine of my present invention, the projecting-portions and surface fibers will overlay the binding strands and thus secure a more permanent bond between the body of sliver' and the binding strands. i

lThe invention consists primarily in a machine embodying therein a rotatable platform adapted to receive one or more containers for a continuous strip or web of cotton sliver, a compacting die carried by and rotatable with said platform, means adaptsov ed to continuously feed 'a wire axially of 1 said' platform and said die, a rotatable head mounted adjacent and beyond said compacting die in the direction -of movement ofthe wire, and having anvaXis of rotation concentric with the opening in said die, a spindle carried by said head and adapted to receive. i

site directions, whereby the binding strand applied by said last named heads will overlay and be wound in a direction opposite to the strand or strands applied by said first named head; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and decon4 scribed, and more particularly' pointed out vin the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, have shown a vertical section of a machine embodying my invention.

apply it to the surface of the wire to ensure a bond between the sliver which is shown at f and the conductor wire e, and facilitate y the application of the sliver to thewire and ensure the desired permanency in relation of the wire and its insulating cover while in use.

Carried by the rotatable platform a is a can g for theI sliver f, the platform a being adapted to receive one or more of such cans accordin' i to' the desired thickness of insulation, w ich varies with wires of different USGS- I The ,wire e is fed axially through the machine bymeans ofthe rollers 7L, which may be driven in any desired manner so as to impart substantially uniform continuous -linealtraverse to said wire.

At 1I have shown a rewind mechanism.

vSince-the employment of feed rollers h and rewind reel z' is old and well known in this art, I have not shown a detailed con- -struction of such mechanisms in the drawing, but have illustrated them ,merely conventionally. q

The sliver f is spirally wound upon the wire e as a result of the rotation of the platform a simultaneously with the lineal traverse of said wire, the pitch of the sliver being determined by the R. P. M. of the said platform as compared with the rate of traverse of the wire. v

The sliver e-is ordinary cotton sliver as delivered by a carding machine, the opposite edges of the sliver', being folded upon thc intermediate portion with one edge -overlapping the other to secure a reduced Athickness at the edges of the .'folded sliver, and give .suflicient bulk to-thestrip or web to facilitate its application to the wire by reason of the addedstre'ngth of the sliver and the added thickness thereof.

By reason of the looseA matting of the fibers ofthe sliver, it is essential, after they have been applied to the wire, to compact it by means vof a rotating reducing die, it being desirable under some conditions to subject the sliver to two'l or more compacting'operations'. In the form of the invention Shown, .I use two compacting dies j 'and lc arranged successively in the direction of movement of the wireA e, the opening .in one die being relatively smaller than that in the other. The dies j and lo are supported by standards m carried-by the platform a, so as to rotate therewith, and thus accomplish the compacting and close matting of the fibers, of the sliver, by a Smoothing action which will avoid a tendency toward the separation of the overlapping edges of succeeding convolutions thereof.

Mounted.adjacent the compacting die is a rotatable head n having a spindle or spindles n" thereon adapted to receive the spools n2 containing a binding strand, thread or cord.

In practice it is customary to use a plurality of such strands in order to lay them in sets upon the compacted sliver, a condition arising from the comparative widths of the sliver and of the binding strand, the former ranging from an inch and a. quarter to an inch and a half and the latter being an ordinary cotton, cord or thread.A By using a plurality of such spindles the convolutions of the different strands of each set may be laid with a spacing of an eighth of an inch or more apart, thus affording capillary ducts therebetween, andstill have the desired bindying action upon the entire width of the sliver.

Beyond the head n, I provide a second rotatable head o carrying similar spindles o upon which similar spools o2 may be mounted, the heads n and o having openings for the passage of the covered wire axially alined with t e opening in the die la. Since the covered liver will be held compacted by the binding strands from` the spools n2 after leaving the head n, no further compaction of the cover is required, and hence no compacting die is used adjacent the head 0.

f Each of the compacting heads is provided with tension devices n3 and o3 intermediate lthe spindles n and o respectively, and the opening through which l the covered wire passes, so as to vcause the binding strands from said spools to be 'imbedded in the sliver body of the covering. n

I also provide the'he'ads n and o with flanges n4 and o4 respectively, h 'avi'ng guide ,openings therein adjacent the point of application of the binding strands' to the covered wire to prevent entangling of the strands of the saine sets and ensure the desired pitch in the applicationv of the strands to thewire. f i

The platform a and the windingheads n.

'- and o maybe driven in any desired manner or by means of any desired mechanism.

In the drawings -I have shown the plat- `form,a as being driven bymeans of a bevelled gear a? carried by its hub, and mesh ing with the bevelled gear p deriving its power through thepulley p '.upon vthe shaftpz.

mirati Mounted upon the standard q is a shaft 1' parallel 4with the shaftp2 carryin a bevelled gear r in mesh with a bevelled gear 'r2 upon the winding head n. A

rllhe shaft r is driven from the shaft p2 by means of the pulleys s .and s and the belt s2. a

Also mounted upon the standard g is a shaft t parallel with the shafts r and p2, carrying a bevelled gear t meshing with the gear t2 upon the head o.

'llhe shaft p2 is driven from the shaft r by means of the pulleys u-Jw and the crossed belt u2.

By the driving mechanism above described, the platform a and ithe binding heads n and o will be continuously rotated, the crossing of thebelt. u2 causing the head o to rotate lin a direction opposite to the direction of rotation'of the head n, thus causing the strand from the spools o2 to beA wound with a spiral trend upon the covered wire in a direction opposite to that in which the strand from the spools n2A is spirally wound, the strand from the spools o2 overlaying those from the spools n2. By having.

the lheads n and o turned at the same. speed as the platform a, the pitch at which the binding strands are wound will be the same as that at which lthe strip or web of sliver f is wound, although by the construction described, the rot-ary speed of the heads may be varied with relation'to that of the plat-v 'form or to each other to secure anyV desired variance in the pitch at which the succeeding strands are wound.

if the speed of the head n is the same as that of the platform a, the same e'ect is secured as though the head n were rigidly se cured to the die 7c. I prefer, however, to mount said head rotatably in relation to said die so that, if desired, the strand from the l spools n2 may be wound at a Ydid'erent pitch from that at which the sliver is wound.

The operation of the herein described machine is substantially as follows lin'the operation of the machine, the wire e is threaded through the rollers in the tank d', the openings b and a', the compacting dies j and c, and the bearing for the head o. lt is then passed over the feed rollers l1. to the rewind reel i.

The end of the sliver strip f from the can g is then applied to the adhesive coated wire, or'if a plurality of such strips or .webs are to be applied, the 4ends of both of such are applied to the wire and the platform a is rotated under power derived from the driving mechanism.

As a result of such application of power, the Wire e will be fed axially thereof through the machine and the sliver f will be spirally wound thereon ata pitch determined by the4 As the covered wire passes through the die j, it will. receive an initial vcompaction by the rotary movement of said die, thus re- ,ducing the diameter of the covering sliver and more closely matting the fibers thereof. rlhe die lc will still further compact the covering sliver.

As the compacted sliver leaves the die lc,

the binding strands from the spools n2 will be wound thereon, said strands being subjected to tension by the tension device n3, so that said strands will be imbedded in the surface of the sliver, the tendency of the sliver to expand substantially simultaneouSly with the application of said strands causing the rtions of said sliver not confined by said strands to bulge slightly asa result of suc-h expansion.l Ilhe strands from the spools n2 will be w'ound in the same direction as the sliver f is wound, and may be Wound in the same or at a different pitch, as desired.

As the covered wire passes through the opening in the support for the winding head o, no compacting action occurs, the binding strand applied thcretoby the head n making further compaction unnecessary and impracticable. As the covered Wire passes the head o, the strands from the spools I02 will be wond'thereon in a direction the reverse.

' In practice, ll have found that the co'mpressive action of the binding strands 'is limited to the portion of the sliver adjacent the outer surface thereof, so that the asphaltum will pass readily to the body of the sliver between said strands and the wire e.

The unconined portions of then sliver will project slightly beyond the binding strands, and the surface fibers thereof will not be so closely matted but that, as a'result of the immersion of 'the covered Wire in the bath of asphaltum Orother composition, and the subsequent waxing and finish-- ing operations, the projecting portions of the sliver and said fibers yvill overlap the bindingl strands and thus anchor them firmly 1n position upon the sliver.

By the successive spiral windings forming the underlaying and overlaying strands above referred to,.1not only secure a wire which, after subsequent saturation or im.

pregnation with asphaltum or other` composition, and nishing, will have a satis' cover has been applied to the wire and before or during its immersion in the bath,

since the outer binding strand will check` any tendency of the inner strand t0 unwind and the inrier strand will relieve the outer strand from the stresses due to a, tendency of the sliver to expand before the matted fibers have been permanently setA by the action of the asphaltum or other composition thereon.

It is not my intention to limit the inven- .tion to the details/"fof construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being apclaim as new and desire parent that such may -be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 'I believe it to be broadly new to provide a machine 0f the character described, with oppositely rotatablev binding heads, for the purpose above referred to, and I intend to claim such broadly. i Having described the invention, what I to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A wire covering machine -embodying therein a rotatable platform adapted to receive one or more containers for a continuous strip of cotton sliver, a compacting die carried by and rotatable with said platform, means adapted to continuously feed -a wire axially of said platform and said die whereby as a result of the axial movement of said wire ,and the rotation of said platform, the sliver will be spirally wound upon the wire, a rotatable head mounted adjacent and beyond said compacting die in the direction of movement of the wire,

and having-an axis of. rotation'concentric with the opening 'in said die, a spindle 'c arried by said head and adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, whereby said bindingstrand will be spirally wound upon the splrally wound sliver while it is compacted, a second rotatable winding head axially alined with 'said first named winding head and positioned beyond same in the .direction of traverse of the wire, a spindle carried thereby adapted to receive a spoolv of a binding strand, and nmeans simultaneously xrotating said winding heads in opposite directions, whereby the binding strand applied by said last named head will overlay and be wound in a direction opposite to the strand or strands applied by said first named head.

2. A wire covering machineembodying therein a rotatable platform" adapted to receive one or more containers for a continuous strip of cotton sliver, a compacting die carried by and rotatable with said latform, means adapted to continuously eed a wvire axially of said platform and said die whereby as a result of the vaxial wound upon the spirally wound sliver while movement of said wire andv the rotation of said platform, the sliver will be spirally wound upon the wire, a rotatable head mounted adjacentand beyond said compacting die in the direction of movement of it is compacted, tensioning means operative upon the binding strand, a second lrotatable\ winding head vaxially alined with said first named winding head and positioned beyond same in the direction of traverse of the wire, a spindle carried thereby adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, tensioning means operative upon the binding strand, and Imeans simultaneously rotating said winding heads in opposite directions, whereby the binding strand ap-V plied by said last named vhead will overlay and be wound in a direction opposite to the strand or strands applied by said first named head.

3. A wire covering machine embodying therein a rotatable` platform adapted to receive one or more containers for a continuous strip of cotton sliver, means whereby an adhesive is applied vto a conductor wlre prior to its passage axially of said platform, a compacting die carried by and rotatable with said platform, means adapted to continuously feed a wire axially of said plafform and said die whereby as a result ofthe axial movement of said wire and the rotation of said platform, the sliver' will be spirally wound upon the wire, a rotatable v head mounted adjacent and beyond said compacting die in the direction of movement of the wire, andhaving an axis of rotation concentric with the opening in said die, a spindle carried by said head and adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, whereby said binding-strand will be spirally wound upon the spirally wound sliver while it is compacted, tensionngA means operative upon the binding stran a second rotatable and positioned beyond same inthe direction. of traverse of the wire, a spindle. carrled -thereby adapted to receive a spool of a. binding strand, tensioning means operative upon 120 the strand or strands applied by said first namedhead@l 4. A wire covering machine embodylng therein a V'rotatable platform adapted to rewlnding headv axially 1 -alined'with said lirst named winding head l lay and be wound in a direction opposite to ceive one ormore containers for a continu- 13,9V

form and said die whereby as a result of .the axial movement of said wire and the rotation of said platform, the'sliver/will be spirally wound upon the wire, a rotatable head mounted adjacent and beyond -said compacting die in the direction of movement of the wire, and having an axis of rotation concentric with the opening in said die, a spindle carried by said head and adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, whereby said binding strand will be spirally wound upon the spirally wound sliver while it is compacted, a second rotatable winding headaxially alined with said` rst named winding head and positioned beyond same in the direction of traverse of the wire, a spindle carried thereby adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, and means simultaneously rotating saidwinding heads in" opposite directions, whereby the bindingstrand applied by said' last named head will overlay and be wound in a direction opposite to the strand or strands applied by said first named head.

5. A wire covering machine embodying therein a rotatable platformv adapted to receive one or more containers for a continuous strip of cotton sliver, a compacting die carried by and rotatable with said platform, means adapted to continuously feed a wire axially of said platform and saidldie whereby as a result of the axial movement of said wire and the rotation of said platform, the sliver will be spirally wound upon the wire, a rotatable head mounted adjacent and beyond said compactingdie in the direction of movement of the wire, and having an axis of rotation concentric with the opening in said die, a spindle carried by said head and adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, whereby said binding strandwill be spirally wound upon the spirally wound sliver while it is compacted, a second rotatable winding head axially alined with said first named winding head and positione'd beyond same in the direction of traverseof the wire, a spindle carried thereby adapted to receive a spool of a ,binding strand,2each of sald heads beingl mounted to rotate independently of the other, and means simultaneously rotating said winding heads in opposite directions, whereby the binding strand app-lied by said last named hea will overlay and 'be wound in a direction opposite to the strand or strands applied by said first named head.

6. A wire covering machine embodying therein a rotatable platform adapted to receive one or more containers for a continuous strip of cotton sliver, a compacting die carried by and rotatable with said platform, means adapted to continuously feed a wire axially of the platform and said die whereby as a result of the axial movement of said wire and the rotation of said platform, the sliver will be spirally wound upon the wire, a headv rotatably mounted beyond and closely adjacent said compacting die in the direction of movement of the wire and having an axis of rotation concentric with the opening in the die, a spindle carried by said head and adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, whereby said binding strand will be spirally wound upon the spirally wound sliver while it is'compacted, a support having a guide opening therethrough axially alined with the opening in said die, a second winding head rotatably mounted upon said support, and positioned beyond same in the direction of traverse of the wire, a spindle carried by said head and adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, whereby said binding strand will be spirally wound upon thespirally wound sliver while lit is compacted, a second yrotatable winding head axially alined with said first named winding head and positioned beyond same in the direction of traverse of the wire, a spindle carried thereby adapted to receive a spool of a binding strand, and means simultaneously rotating said winding heads in opposite directions, whereby the binding strand applied by said last named head will overlay and be wound in a direction opposite to the strand or strands applied by said first named head'.

ln witness whereof l have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 27th day of December, 1920.

wiLLmM n. Coon.

i Witnesses: v

F. T. WnN'rwoR'rH, FRLEDA Koeman. 

